I know I said that this was going to be the last chapter, but it was getting really long. I mean 4,500 words. And this is better right?
Chapter 50 part 1: Last Hogwarts Train Ride
"Ready to go?" James asked Lily.
"Yes." Lily answered taking one last look around the common room.
"Lots of memories in here." James agreed taking her hand.
"I think I'm going to miss this place." Lily said moving closer to him..
"I won't miss those bloody essays." Sirius told them stomping down the stairs.
"Of course you wouldn't." Remus said following him. James sighed wrapping an arm around her shoulder, turning to face his friends.
"And I suppose you are?" Sirius challenged.
"No!" Remus said indignantly.
"Point made." Sirius decided flopping onto the sofa.
"Are you two ready?" James asked them.
"For?" Sirius asked.
"The train comes today." Lily told him.
"Right!" Sirius pointed at her. "We've got to have a breakfast first though."
"That's really what on top of your list to do before leaving Hogwarts?" Remus asked him.
"Yeah. Why? What's on yours?" Sirius answered seriously.
Remus just shook his head. "When should we go down?"
"How about now?" James suggested.
"But I just got comfy." Sirius protested sprawled out on the couch.
"Oh, come off it." James teased throwing a pillow at him. Sirius caught it easily before throwing it behind him.
"Let us go," Sirius said jumping up quickly changing attitudes.
"Feast and be merry." James added joining in.
"Gain much weight." Sirius continued. They put an arm and each other's shoulder leaving Lily behind with Remus.
"So. Where's Peter?" Lily asked watching them leave.
Before the two boys left the common room she heard James say, "To drink much juice."
"He went down early." Remus answered heading for the door. Lily fell into step beside him.
"What do you think they're big memorable breakfast will be?"
"Who knows." By the time they got to the Grand Staircase James and Sirius were already half way down, sliding down the railing.
"Rail racing." Remus explained.
"Of course."
"Nothing phases you with those two any more huh?" He asked.
"There have been time." She allowed. They continued to chat all the way down to the Great Hall.
James and Sirius were already sitting down piling food on their plate. The only thing Lily could think of was, 'please on the name of Merlin's grave, not a breakfast burrito.'
"Lily." James called as if seeing her for the first time that morning. He seemed to resort to childish behavior around Sirius. He patted the seat next to him while still shoveling scrambled eggs onto his plate.
"What are you doing?" Lily asked warily taking the seat, Remus sitting down across from them.
"Making the amazing eatable breakfast tower of glorious stackables." Sirius answered.
"The what? Is that even wise?"
"No. No it's not." Sirius smiled answering again.
"Let it go." Remus advised.
"But," Lily began then changed her mind, "Yeah. Let it go." As it turned out the 'amazing eatable breakfast tower of glorious stackables' was a stack of pancakes and waffles with a side of egg, sausage and bacon. Like a glorified breakfast burrito, but without all the side dishes stacked inside.
With the amount of syrup they put on it, Lily was sure they'd be sick on the train. Remus seemed to be thinking the same thing by the way he was watching them.
"Did you ever get your shirt out of the locker room?" Lily asked James, just to get her mind off what he was eating.
"The Bulgarian one? Yeah." He answered around a mouth full of food.
"Charming." She told him. He simply wiped around a bit of powdered sugar from the side of his mouth.
Ambre came up to Remus. "Good morning." She greeted him sitting down beside him. They were never very public with their relationship. There was hand holding but that was all Lily would ever really see. She'd seen them kiss a few times and hug at night, but they weren't an out there, really physical couple.
Ambre studied Sirius and James a moment.
"Don't ask." Remus suggested. She just frowned at them, but nodded.
"That seems to be the best philosophy with them." Lily said.
"How you ever ended up with James is so beyond me." Ambre said. Lily could see Remus reach under the table and could guess that he was holding her hand on the empty space between them. Small, but subtle gesture. Chances were it wouldn't get any farther.
Beside her James was carrying on a conversation with Sirius. Both their mouths were full. Lily shook her head. She rested her head on her propped up fist. Remus smiled at her sympathetically while Ambre chewed on a biscuit managing to ignore the boys.
"Veally?" James asked.
"James. Please, chew." Lily begged. He swallowed what was in his mouth, ignoring the chew suggestion completely.
"Sorry." he apologized. Lily just rolled her eyes slightly disgusted.
"When does the train come?" Ambre asked.
"Eleven." Remus answered. He had both hands now and was buttering the top pancake of a small stack.
"What time is it now?" She asked. Lily took James' wrist, but he didn't have a watch. He never did.
"Almost ten thirty." Remus answered.
"Where's you watch?" Lily asked James. He held up a finger so he wouldn't be talking with his mouth full. By lunch she'd have to remind him again.
"My trunk. We cleared out the whole room, so it's got to be in one of ours."
"You didn't put anything in my trunk did you?" Remus asked.
"I can't remember." James answered.
"I think so." Sirius supplied causing Remus to groan.
o
The scarlet train traveled through the field toward London. In a cramped compartment sat Lily, James, Remus, Ambre, Sirius, Peter and Ivy. Lily managed to get stuck next to the window, so she had the view, but she also had little room. James sat next to her with Sirius on his other side. Ivy sat across from Lily with Ambre next to her and Remus past that. Peter sat on the end next to Sirius, right by the door.
The door slid open revealing Mary and Jamie.
"Hey." Lily said looking past James, Sirius and Peter to them.
"Hi." Jamie said.
"Listen, there aren't any other compartments open. Mind if we join you?" Mary asked.
"Sure." James allowed. What was going through his mind was way beyond Lily. It was crowded enough without two more.
"Thanks." Mary sat down first, next to Remus. Jamie squeezed in next to Peter. Lily was practically on top of James. Lily caught Mary smiling tentatively to Jamie. Maybe there was hope that they would let go of their petty fight.
"I have to go to the loo." Peter announced. He stumbled out of the room leaving a little bit more room for Lily to breath. But this stuck Jamie next to Sirius. It was quiet for a minute.
"I wish things had gone differently." Jamie said to Mary suddenly. Mary raised an eyebrow at her.
"And I wish I hadn't gotten together with Sirius. If you even want to put it that way." Mary laughed nervously at that.
"I wouldn't." Mary said.
"I'm right here." Sirius objected.
"So can we just let this stupid thing go and be friends?" Jamie asked ignoring Sirius.
"Friends." Mary agreed after a second. They hugged awkwardly, with all the people pressing around them it made it hard.
"Aw." Sirius said loudly.
"We have to agree to never let a guy get between us." Mary said.
"Deal. I mean could you believe the way we acted. And over that." Jamie indicated Sirius.
"Hey." Disapproved Sirius indignantly. Lily laughed with Ambre. Jamie and Mary chatted then, just like old times. It wasn't as relaxed, but it was a start.
When Peter came back in things got very cramped again. James had to put an arm around Lily's shoulders, just so his shoulder wasn't pushing against her so much.
The trolley lady came by around noon. When she opened their door to ask if they wanted anything she did a double take, seeing all those people.
"W-Want anything from the trolley?" She asked recovering.
"Yes." Sirius answered and then ordered enough for everyone. After eating Lily wanted, no needed, to stretch her legs.
"James," She began.
"Hmm?" He asked looking away from his conversation with Sirius.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" She asked. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Sure." He replied. "You coming?" He asked Sirius smacking his leg.
"Naw. You go have fun." Sirius answered ruffling James' hair. Lily nearly fell out of the compartment.
"I bet we broke a record for the most people in a compartment at one time." James said walking down the corridor.
"I wouldn't doubt that. It was crowded in there." She walked beside him.
"So, did you really get me out in the hall to walk?" James asked.
"Oh, come one now. You don't think I brought you out here so we could snog did you?"
"Well, I was hoping that's what you had in mind. Yeah." He admitted. "And you did bring it up..."
Lily giggled shaking her head.
"How come you're not this relaxed in school?" James demanded smiling.
"Because, there were things to worry about in school. But now, there's not. It's just us." She nudged him. James looked around at the empty corridor.
"It is just us." He grinned.
"So, what are you going to do with this opportunity Mr. Potter?"
"I think I'm going to snog my girlfriend, Ms. Evans." James answered wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him.
"And here I thought you wanted to kiss me." Lily teased placing her hands around his neck.
"That works too." was the last thing he said before kissing her. Snogging James like that made it hard to stop. He seemed to think so too.
James pulled away slightly, breathing hard. "I love you." He huffed. Lily looked at his eyes, then lips then back to his eyes.
"I love you too." He bent back down kissing her, pressing her against the wall.
Lily could feel James reaching behind her, blindly looking for something. She barely heard the compartment door slide open.
"Out." James told the first years inside. Lily should have cared, but she hardly noticed as she kissed his neck. The kids scurried out clearly intimidated and not wanting to be in the same room as them.
James' mouth moved back to Lily's, with his hand on her waist and the other in her hair he guided her into the compartment. Inside James' pushed himself against the door, blindly reaching behind him to yank down the blind.
Lily traced her hand over the cotton of his shirt, then she used it then to bring him closer. James lifted her, pressing their bodies together, deepening the kiss as he did so. He almost groaned at the pleasure he got when she consented. With her legs wrapped securely around him, he eased a hand under her shirt, caressing the smooth skin there. Lily shivered at the touch, but didn't want him to stop.
A small bump from the train made James loose his footing. Lily slipped down nearly banging her head on the luggage rack. Neither of them cared, as James followed her decent with his lips. His hands still on her skin roaming her sides. The bump caused her shirt to be much higher than it should have been.
She found herself being gently pushed down onto the bench. He lost her lips, instead kissing her neck, collar, and jaw. Lily let out the slightest of moans urging him to continue.
His hand that wasn't being used to keep him from crushing Lily, slid from her side to her thigh, on it's way back up it eased the hem of her skirt up. This sent off warning bells in her head. As much as she was loving this, they needed to stop.
He was tracing a path back to her lips, she turned her head denying him a kiss. He thought this odd, but looked behind him to the door to see if maybe someone had come in. Hoping that was the reason. When no one was there, and he felt Lily push against his chest he got the hint.
Thinking there was more room on the bench he rolled over, but instead went crashing onto the floor.
"Sorry." Lily breathed.
"Yeah." James huffed, trying to control his raged breathing.
"We had to stop." She explained. She could feel her heart drumming against her chest.
"Why?"
"Because." Lily began still trying to regulate her breathing. "I'm waiting."
"Waiting." James repeated. She wasn't sure if it was meant to be a question, or a statement. So she explained further.
"Until marriage."
"Oh."
"My dad kind of instilled that in me and with him.....I just want to wait." She clarified. She rested a hand on her stomach, realizing her shirt had come undone. Lily had wanted to tell him about waiting sooner, but with classes, studying and friends, well it had never really been an issue. They were so busy they really had no time for thoughts of sex. Or at least she didn't. And with Sirius running around there was really no uninterrupted snogging that could potentially lead up to shagging. Until now. The closest they ever got was on head duties. But Lily always managed to stop that because they were supposed to be patrolling.
"I'm sorry." Lily repeated.
"We should have talked about this huh?" He asked from the floor, ignoring the apology. Deeming it unnecessary.
"It would have been awkward, but yeah."
"It wouldn't have been so bad. Nothing like talking about it with your parents." Lily cracked a smile at that.
"So, your really okay with this?" Lily asked.
"Yeah. It's what you want, so I'll respect that." He promised her. She nodded, but he couldn't see it. "I mean I would love to, but..." he let it trail off.
"I do want to." Lily told him turning onto her side to look at him. "One day. And you understand that I am ready, just I'm not at the same time."
"Lily, I get it." He reached up grabbing her hand. "You don't have to explain this to me."
She gave a small smile. After a minute of silently looking at each other, James turned his head looking at the ceiling and dropping her hand. He laced his fingers behind his head and listened to something.
"I can hear the train." He told her changing subjects. It was time to move away from that awkward topic.
"What?"
"The train. I can hear it moving over the track. Come here." He patted one hand on the ground beside him, keeping the other behind his head. He scooted over giving her some room.
She got down beside him, pressing an ear to the floor. She really could hear the roar of the train as it rattled over the track. It sounded strange, different than what she'd heard sitting on the bench or walking through the corridor. Seven years worth of trips on the train, and only once did she get down on the floor to listen to the train.
They listened to the progress of the train for several minutes in silence. Then Lily moved closer to him, propping herself up on her elbow, turned on her side so she could look down at him. He looked at her curiously, wondering what she was up to. In all honesty she wasn't sure either.
She searched for words, but found none. James seemed to realize this as he put a hand on her hip, pulling her close. She laid her head on his shoulder, wrapping an arm around him. He intertwined his fingers with hers on his chest, the other curled up to rest on her hips.
"How much longer do you think we have?" She asked him, meaning their arrival to King's Cross.
"I don't wear a watch remember." He answered. She thought he was pulling her closer, but he was actually looking at his wrist.
"A few more hours." She craned to see his wrist.
"You're wearing a watch?"
"Time does not keep me. But you brought it up at breakfast so I found it."
"You're wearing your watch for me." Lily smiled. James rolled his eyes kissing her fingers.
"If that makes you happy." He allowed.
"How come I didn't notice it earlier?" She asked.
"It's on my right wrist. You tend to stand on my left." He answered.
"I do?"
"Yep. You never noticed that?" she shook her head. "Well you do. Like on the train, you faced front, next to the window, on my left side."
"Are you just realizing this now?" She asked him. It was a weird detail to pick up.
"No. I noticed before we were dating, during patrols. After I'd get kinks from looking down and left. It's actually weird for you to be on the right."
"Down and left." Lily repeated looking up and left at him. "That's weird."
"I know." Lily didn't reply, but lay in companionable silence. From her place on the floor she could see a vast blue sky, white clouds just little tufts hanging high above. Green bits flew past them, so quickly that the trees were nothing more than a blur.
"Hey Lily," James began, he sounded like he thought she might have fallen asleep.
"Yeah?"
"Remember that letter we got from Dumbledore a while ago?" He asked. Lily thought back.
"No." She answered slowly.
"It was a really long time ago. Anyway, he sent me another letter. It's been in my pocket for a while."
"What does it say?" She asked.
"Actually it involves Sirius, Remus and Peter too. I'll go find them and come right back here. Okay?"
"Sure." Lily agreed. James sat up then turned helping Lily to her feet.
"I'll be right back." He promised. When he saw Lily make herself comfortable he smiled leaving.
Outside the compartment were the three first years he had kicked out.
"What are you waiting for?" James asked them.
"We-we erm," One of them began.
"We need our stuff." Another of them said. They were all Hufflepuffs.
"Oh. Right," James walked back into the compartment. "So you found a different compartment then?"
"Yes." The same one answered. He hadn't even heard the third speak up yet.
"They need their trunks." James explained to Lily who had been looking out the window.
"Oh. Okay. Do you need any help?" She asked.
"Naw. I'll get the others to help me." James told her. She nodded looking back out the window. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he pulled down each trunk in turn, handing them off to the first years, who struggled under their weight.
"I'll be out in a bit to help you." James told them. They each nodded leaving. When the last silent one left, James squatted down in front of Lily.
"Hey, what's with the sudden mood swing?" Lily smiled at him.
"No mood swing. I'm just thinking. Just go help the boys." She told him. He raised an eyebrow but left.
o
James slid the compartment door open, it was still full, but Mary, Jamie and Ivy all seemed to be back to normal. Laughing and talking without a care. Sirius looked alone since Remus was talking quietly to Ambre.
"Did you do it?" Sirius blurted.
"Where's Peter?" James asked ignoring the question.
"Tough break."
"Would you shut up. Where is he?"
"He wanted to get out. Get some more food." Remus answered.
"Can you find him and then meet me down the hall? We need to talk." James asked.
"Sure. MM?" Remus asked.
"Something like that." James agreed. "Padfoot come with me."
"Tough break..."
"Come on." James pulled him by the collar dragging him into the hall.
"Wait," Sirius protested, James let go of him. Sirius reached up into the luggage rack pulling down a ball of cloths.
"Might as well change."
"Thanks." James took the clothes. "Do you think I should grab some for Lily?"
"Hmm. You picking out your girlfriend's clothes. I'd say you shouldn't." Sirius answered.
"She'll want to change." Jamie told them. "Here," She reached up digging through Lily's trunk. "She always keeps the clothes she wants to change into on top. She also keeps a blanket under them so she can reach up and grab them without digging." She explained pulling out a small bag.
"I gave her that." Mary said pointing to the purple bag.
"Really?" Ivy asked.
"Yeah."
"It's cute." Jamie told her.
"Yeah, that's great. Can you just give it to me?" He asked not wanting to leave her there too long by herself.
"Here. Sorry." Jamie handed him the bag.
"When did you give it to her?" Ivy asked.
"For Christmas remember?" Mary told her. James left with Sirius and Remus then.
"I don't get girls. Are they really going to discus another girl's bag?" Remus asked.
"I think so." Sirius said.
"I'm going to look that way for Wormtail." Remus told them going the opposite direction.
"Okay." Sirius said deafly. "So what happened?"
"You sound like Mary when she wants to gossip." James told him.
"That's offensive." Sirius told him. "But I'm not looking for gossip here. I just want to know if you shagged."
"No. We did not." James said shoving his hand in his pocket and balling his clothes in the other, the string of Lily's bag dangling off his wrist.
"Can she though?" Sirius was only slightly hesitant.
"Of course she can!"
"No need to get touchy. Then, why didn't you?"
"She wants to wait."
"Wait for what? You know the 'safe sex' charm." In truth he didn't know what the charm was called, he just knew it worked one hundred percent of the time, much like a condom.
"You taught it to me." James reminded him. He hadn't really wanted to learn it either, figuring the one girl he wanted to do it with wouldn't give him the time of day.
"And it's fool proof." Sirius told him.
"Lily just wants to wait until she's married." James explained.
"Which reminds me, when are you going to get a ring?"
"I don't know. I mean my mum wants me to use hers, but it's old and conventional. You know?"
"I would never use my mum's engagement ring." Sirius threw in. James snorted. "Well I wouldn't. Loo." Sirius stopped pushing him toward the bathroom.
"Time me." James said throwing him Lily's bag and his watch.
"Where did you get this?" Sirius demanded looking at the silver watch.
"My dad. Remember, for my seventeenth birthday. Tradition and all that.. Now, are you going to time me or what?" They had this game going, since second year, where they tried to change the fastest.
"Yeah okay. One second handicap for door, Go!" James bolted into the small room toeing off his shoes while slamming the door and tearing his shirt over his head. He fought off his clothes then changed into his muggle attire. Meeting Sirius in the hall once again.
"I must say. Age is slowing you down." Sirius teased. "Plus your trainers aren't tied."
"We demolished that rule."
"No, you voted for it to be gone. I outvoted you."
"You can't win in a democracy with only two people." James decided.
"It's worked so far."
"It's mostly just agreement and disagreement though. Negotiation. It's not real democracy."
"Well it's not a monarchy either."
"I think I burned myself when I tried to pull off the tie." James said running a finger over his neck.
"You've also got yourself a necker." Sirius said jabbing the hickey on his friend's neck. James grinned a crooked grin fingering the spot.
"I will treasure it forever." James promised pressing down on his neck with his palm.
"Pathetic."
"Jealous Padfoot?" James asked circling the hickey.
"Nope. I've actually shagged this year." Sirius said holding out his arms. James pushed him making him bang his arm on the wall.
"Ow." Sirius complained rubbing his arm.
"In there." James laughed pointing to the compartment. Sirius slid the door open walking in first. Lily was still gazing out the window.
"Hello love." Sirius said sitting down across from her.
"Hello Sirius." Lily replied.
"Here that Prongs. She loves me."
"Got proof?" James asked tapping the hickey. Lily's eyes widened seeing it. He sat down next to her.
"Did I give you that?" Lily demanded yanking on his shirt collar.
"Well I hope so." James said pulling away. Lily gave him a warning look.
"Have you got one?" Sirius asked her.
"What? No. I don't even remember giving him one." Sirius opened his mouth, "If you make one suggestive comment your dead." With that his mouth snapped shut.
"Bloody funsucker." Sirius griped crossing his arms.
"Is there a way to get rid of it?" Lily asked.
"Didn't you hear? He wants to keep it forever." Sirius mentioned dreamily.
"You do?" She asked doubtfully.
"I was kidding." James adjusted his shirt.
"We brought you a change of clothes." Sirius said suddenly.
"You went through my trunk?" Sirius was beginning to try her patience.
"No, Jamie suggested we take them to you. She got them out." Sirius assured her.
"Oh. Thanks." Lily felt a little foolish for over reacting. "I'll be right back then." She took her purple bag and left the room.
"She's a bit touchy isn't she?" Sirius asked.
"She's just embarrassed."
While Lily was changing Remus and Peter showed up. She came back dressed in jeans and a tank top, a short sleeve sports jacket thrown on over it.
"So, what did the note say?" She asked closing the door behind her and sitting down.
"What note?" Peter asked.
"The note Dumbledore gave me the same day we went to the lake right after finishing our exams. I've had it in my pocket." James explained to him pulling the note from his back pocket.
"Well, go on read it." Sirius urged.
"If you are interested in joining the Order of the Phoenix meet me at the Hog's Head, in Hogsmead, at 7 pm Wednesday." James read.
"This Wednesday?" Remus asked.
"He told me to read this on the train with all of you. So I'm guessing he meant this Wednesday yeah."
"The Order." Sirius grinned.
"I wonder if he's joining." Remus teased Sirius.
"Of course I'm joining you buffoon." Sirius scowled indignantly.
"Werewolf actually." Remus corrected making them laugh at the rather bad joke.
"Well I know I'm in." James said.
"Like I'd let the two of you exclude me from this." Remus said. "Put me down."
"Me too." Peter squeaked. Lily couldn't believe they were so willing to throw away their whole lives like that. Not even considering the possibility that they could die. So willing, but unaware of just how unready they were.
Did you notice that the end of this chapter & the last one were really similar? None of them were ready, but all of them were willing -end of 49- So willing, but unaware of just how unready they were- end of this one
Many of you thought you knew the answer to what was in his pocket. But you were wrong! Ha! I did that on purpose actually, I wanted you to guess wrong. And I couldn't leave Mary and Jamie on a bad note, for a reason, so they made up realizing their pettiness. In the next chapter I'm going to deal with Remus&Ambre. A nice way to finish off the year? Don't you think?
Please Review.
Now I'm off to finish part II.